Frankie Banali has been in the biz for a lifetime, played with some of the greatest,
and is still pounding away..
Quiet Riot has reformed with new players, and released a c.d. of live rare stuff,
and are now hitting the road..
Here is Frankie to go through his career... past present, and future...

First off., thanks alot for doing this Frankie.. Ive been a fan since day one, I play drums, and am really excited about this chance to interview you...
Thanks for taking the time!

Now onto the good stuff... first off wayyy back in the day.... how did you hook up w/the guys in Quiet Riot?
I used to go to a Hollywood club called the Starwood in Hollywood, California. QUIET RIOT were a staple of that club and Rudy Sarzo who I had played with in Florida and later Chicago was by then the bass player who replaced the original bassist Kelly Garni. I would go to see them because Randy Rhodes was hands down the best guitarist on the scene and an amazing showman and QUIET RIOT drew the biggest female audience. Their shows were the ones to go to. Rudy would invite me to the shows and put me on the guest list. From there he introduced me to Kevin who  didn't know what to make of me! But shortly after we began playing together we became friends. From there, it all became part of rock history with the eventual release and success of Metal Health.

Actually being successful doing something I love, playing the drums. No one particular event because there were so many good and bad times that went along with the success. I think if I had to choose, that would be Metal Health reaching the top of the heap.

 

The "Metal Health" tour began at the Roxy in Hollywood upon the release of the record on March 18, 1983. From there it was a long haul first traveling in two rental cars and a rental truck for dates in the San Francisco area opening for Dutch rock band Vandenburgh. From there we moved up to a Winnebago and rental truck when we got the opening spot with Scorpions. We opened for everyone from Z. Z. Top to Iron Maiden.

In November of that year. It was around my birthday and we were opening for Black Sabbath on their "Born Again" tour. Just before show time we were told that "Metal Health" would hit #1 in the Billboard charts the following week. No one can take that moment away.

How important was the "hair band" look back in the day, and do you ever look back and think "what the hell was I thinking"?
It was all part of the package.

Biggest crowd you ever played for?
Over 350,000 fans.

and where?
The US Festival, Sunday, May 29th, 1983 at Glen Helen Park, San Bernardino County, CA.

Favorite Quiet Riot song to play live?
Probably Condition Critical.

Least favorite?
Battle Axe.....

Least favorite Quiet Riot album or just didn't turn out as well as planned?
QR III, too many keyboards, poorly produced, but I do like "The Wild and the Young" from that release.

How was it working on the "Hear n Aid: Stars" album with all the different musicians?
I had received a call early on from former Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell about the then unnamed project. He came up to my house and played me the basic song and told me if it came together he would like for me to be involved. I was flattered. As it turned out, the session for the backing track was booked for the day after I was to return from a QUIET RIOT South American tour. I returned to LA late the evening before and had my drums taken to the studio early the next morning. It was great to essentially be in Dio for one day. The band was Dio plus myself. We rehearsed the song and there was a break for Vinny and I to each do solo drum fills. Much to Ronnie Dio's annoyance, Vinny and I would just keep playing well after everyone had finished the song each run through.

What led to you joining W.A.S.P...
Actually, I was never a member in that band. We had all had known each other for a long time and had talked about working together even before I was in QUIET RIOT. It just never came together. I was more interested in playing with a lot of different musicians, getting sessions, improving as a drummer.
 

When QUIET RIOT were recording the fourth album, I was asked if I would be interested in joining W.A.S.P. and recording. I declined because I had my hands full with QUIET RIOT with two new members. They were very persistent, so I told them if they didn't find a drummer they liked to record what would later become "The Headless Children" that I would try to work out my schedule to record with the group. At the end of the QR 4 sessions I was asked again if I could do the record and I agreed. I would finish the end of the sessions with QR and commence rehearsals and then the sessions with W.A.S.P. in the evenings.
Recording "Headless" was one of the best experiences I had in a long time. I had known Chris Holmes for years and he really is a good guitar player, much better than he's given credit for.  Johnny Rod was great to work with musically. He has one of the biggest vocabulary of playable rock songs I've ever seen. We finished the "Headless" session and I was asked if I'd be interested in touring, but I explained that I still had my QR commitments and were getting ready to tour South America. Before leaving for Columbia I did participate in the video shoot for the Who's "The Real Me" which was a long shoot but a lot of fun. After returning from South America I did the W.A.S.P. video for "Forever Free" which lasted late into the evening, went home packed, showered and went to the airport to leave for Japan and what would be the end of the QR 4 version of the band. I called them when I had made my decision to leave QR and management suggested I stay in Tokyo to do press for "Headless" in Tokyo. From Tokyo, Chris and I flew to London to begin rehearsals for what was to become the year long tour to support the "Headless" release.

How was it working w/Blackie?

I just went in, listened to the songs, played what fit best in the musical mould that he created, got paid, thanked him for the sessions and went about my business as usual. It was really just business. He would only call me when he needed me.

Would you ever join up w/the WASP guys again?

No, I have no desired to because I have gone as far as I could with  that framework. I have participated in whole or in part on the following W.A.S.P. recordings:
W.A.S.P. Headless Children (1988)
W.A.S.P. Crimson Idol (1993)
W.A.S.P. First Blood/Last Cuts (1994)
W.A.S.P. Still Not Black Enough (1996) Drums
W.A.S.P. Best of the Beast 1984/2000 (2000)
W.A.S.P. Headless Children w/Bonus Live Tracks (2000)
W.A.S.P. Crimson Idol w/Bonus Tracks (2000)
W.A.S.P. Unholy Terror (2001)
W.A.S.P. Unholy Terror - Japanese w/Bonus Tracks (2001)
W.A.S.P. Dying For The World (2002)
W.A.S.P. Dying For The World - Japan w/Bonus Tracks (2002)

W.A.S.P. The Neon God Part I (2004)

W.A.S.P. The Neon God Part II (2004)

 

I think that's enough, don't you? 

 

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